Our programs

Geelong Citizens' jury

A citizens' jury of 100 Geelong residents was formed to make recommendations on how their community will be democratically represented by a future council.

The Geelong Citizens’ Jury

The Victorian Government committed to consult the Geelong community about its local governance arrangements following the dismissal of the Greater Geelong City Council in April 2016.

Announced by the former Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP on 12 July 2016, the Geelong Citizens' Jury is overseen by the independent not-for-profit organisation the newDemocracy Foundation (nDF). The jury was taksed with recommending how Greater Geelong will be democratically represented by a future council.

The nDF randomly selected the 100-member jury from 15,000 Geelong residents, who were invited to register their interest to be a jury member. Key stakeholders and interest groups as well as all members of the Geelong community had the opportunity to have their say in person and online, and have those views considered by the jury. This ensured the jury was fully informed about all views and perspectives when it deliberated.

The unedited final Geelong Citizens' Jury report and the Government response were tabled in Parliament on 9 May 2017. This coincided with the introduction of a Bill to implement the jury's practical recommendations.

The Bill provides for:

eleven councillors in total

the mayor and deputy mayor elected by the council

the mayor and deputy mayor serve a term in office of two years

the councillors elected to represent four wards with three councillors in three wards and two councillors in one ward.

The Bill was passed by Parliament on 8 June 2017 and will be implemented prior to the October 2017 election for the Greater Geelong City Council.

We acknowledge and respect Victorian Traditional Owners as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters,
their unique ability to care for Country and deep spiritual connection to it. We honour Elders past and present whose
knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices.

We are committed to genuinely partner, and meaningfully engage, with Victoria's Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities to support the protection of Country, the maintenance of spiritual and cultural practices and their broader aspirations in the 21st century and beyond.